Startup Aquarium 2023: A Recap of Japan's Newest Startup Ecosystem Event
Startup Aquarium, a major event for the Japanese startup ecosystem, was held on February 18th by Coral Capital at Toranomon Hills, Mori Building, Tokyo. With over 1,500 registered visitors and more than 80 industry key persons taking the stage, the event provided great learning opportunities from rapidly growing innovative companies, meeting professionals in the same field, expanding their network, and gaining a deep understanding of the latest trends. More than 60 startups and companies across 12 different fields, including FinTech, Logistics Tech, DeepTech, B2B SaaS, and HealthTech were featured, with the support from several sponsors including Mizuho, Wovn.io, Slogan, Delight Venture, Kotaeru Trust, Plutus Consulting, among others. Some of the most notable startups that were featured included Kamenashi, Nitoel, Kikitori, BluAge, Graffer, Nstock, PrimeNumber, Connected Robotics, Justincase, CreditEngine, Woodstock.club, and Zehitomo.
Zeroboard
Company providing GHG emissions calculation and visualization cloud service
One of the startups that received a lot of attention was Zeroboard, a social impact startup that provides GHG emissions calculation and visualization cloud service. Zeroboard enables companies to calculate and visualize greenhouse gas emissions from their corporate activities and supply chains based on the international standard GHG protocol. The company also provides decarbonization support, such as CO2 reduction plans, carbon offsets, and branding campaigns. Another highlighted startup was Connected Robotics, which develops cooking robot systems to solve the labor shortage facing the Japanese restaurant industry and to support the global spread of Japanese cuisine. Graffer, a B2B2C SaaS company, one of the leading players focused on the digital transformation of the governing system in Japan, was also presented.
Connected Robotics pitch - Photo by Social Impact Lab Japan
The event also featured several prominent speakers, including James Riney from Coral Capital and Tomoko Nanba from Delight Ventures. They discussed career paths between startups, large companies, and mega-ventures. The Session on "2023 Startup Industry Predicted by Leading VCs" featured speakers from Japan's leading venture capital firms who discussed the areas that will experience growth in the future. The speakers included representatives from Globis Capital Partners, ALL STAR SAAS FUND, and DNX Ventures, with Ken Nishimura from Coral Capital serving as the moderator. Another session focused on the differences between startups that are growing and those looking for new job opportunities, with representatives from ANRI, SBI Investment, and Incubate Fund.
Whale Stage Sessions - Photo by Social Impact Lab Japan
Overall, the event was a great opportunity for networking and learning more about the startup ecosystem in Japan, as well as discovering several career paths for the younger generation to take part in newly emerging startups. It showcased the diversity, creativity, and growing interest in the Japanese startup scene, offering new hope for the business and economic transformation in the country as well as demonstrating the potential for startups to create meaningful social impact.